Zoë Sobel, Alaska's Energy Desk

As the blue king crab population crashes, fishermen on St. Paul Island face more restrictions to reduce bycatch. But the rules to protect the crab also make it difficult to do research on the species.

The farther west you go, the worse it looks for Alaska’s Steller sea lions. At the end of the Aleutian chain, the population is dropping about 7 percent a year.

As temperatures rise, Arctic ice is retreating, making trips through the Northwest passage – from Alaska to Maine – a new summer reality. But until now, mariners navigating Arctic ice have had limited formal training. A professor at Maine Maritime Academy is working to change that.

When you think of the Pribilof Islands, what food comes to mind? Probably not produce. The people of St. Paul Island are working to change that. With a federal grant, they’ve built a greenhouse. It’s so productive, they’re giving away the produce.

For many Alaskans, subsistence is all about salmon. In St. Paul, that isn’t the case. Fur seals and seabirds are the primary subsistence foods in the Pribilof Island community, but the tribal council thinks enhancing a small salmon run on the island could provide food and a lot more.

There’s only one park in America with canine rangers: Denali National Park. The use of sled dogs is older than the park itself. In the summers, the dogs serve as ambassadors. During the winter months, they ferry park employees through areas closed to motorized vehicles.